Two Different Roads

For Pete's Sake

Mike blinked, covered his eyes to shield them from the morning sun coming through their bedroom window.
"Damn, is this what a hangover feels like?"
"Vicky could tell you, but I've never been that much of a drinker either."
"Smart girl," he uttered and pulled the thin sheet covering him up to his neck.
"Don't you have to put the finishing touches on that single today?"
"Unfortunately I do." He sat up, left the bed slowly, painfully. She couldn't help lingering over his naked body as he searched for something to wear.
"I know what you're doing Missy."
"Can I help it if I like what I see."
"I'm glad you enjoy looking at my bare ass, but I've gotta get going Babe. Did you wash that white, pinstriped shirt."
"I did. I'll get it."
His eyes followed her as she crossed the room.
"Now who's looking?"
"With a body like that you expect me not to?"
"Here. After I put something on I'll make you coffee. Do you want anything to eat?"
"Not much time, so just a couple of pieces of toast with plenty of butter I guess. Oh, I just remembered, I wanted to ask you something. One of the guys I'll be working with on the show kind of needs a place to crash, at least until we finish filming the pilot next month. I told you about Peter, right? It's him. He wondered if he could crash on our floor."
"Can I meet him before I say yes or no?"
"Sure. How about we have him over for dinner tomorrow night, and then you and Vicky can decide what you think."
"That's doable."
"Great, I'll tell him."
II
"Glad you could make it Peter. Come on in.
Mike stepped aside for a tall man with light brown hair, kind eyes, and a radiant smile.
"This is for you," he said, handing Mike a bottle. "These are for the ladies," he continued, indicating a bouquet of daisies, "and these are for all of us," he finished, holding up a handful of joints.
"Well I guess that about covers it," Mike chuckled.
"I'll take those," Vicky said, accepting the flowers and immediaty looking for something to put them in. When she returned Mike was ready with introductions.
"This is Vicky."
"The sister," Peter remarked.
"I am, and you must be Peter, one of the other Monkees." Something seemed to pass between them as they shook hands.
"Baby you want to come out here for a minute to say hi?"
When Ellen emerged from the kitchen to greet him, Peter was surprised. This was not what he'd expected somehow. From what little he knew of him so far, Mike just didn't seem the type to go for such obvious beauty. Peter had figured on a more, bookish, intellectual-looking woman, intense, serious, perhaps with dark hair like his.
"This is your lady?"
"Beats all, don't it? Yeah, this is Ellen."
"Hello Peter, it's nice to meet you. Michael has told me all about you. Sit, relax. Dinner will be ready soon."
The women retreated to the kitchen while the men opened the wine Peter had brought. They had already finished their first glass when the food was produced.
"We'll be going to England tonight. Vicky and my Ellen have cooked us up a regular British feast. Wait until you try the potatoes. They're to die for. I always ask her to make them this way now."
"I'm curious," Peter began, "how did an English girl wind up with a guy from Texas? How did you meet?"
Mike told him a short version of the story, finishing, "Within less than two weeks she'd moved in with me. Sometimes you just know, ya know."
"I like that," he said then focused on the food.. "This IS good."
"I told you. She's versatile too. I've been teaching her some of my favorite Texas foods and she's picked them up really fast."
"I must confess that I didn't quite understand the appeal of chili over hash browns with eggs on top, but I'm developing a taste for it."
"Not just a relationship. A sharing of cultures too-groovy."
"Definitely is."
III
After dinner they sat about the living room, listening to Otis Redding's "Otis Blue" album, smoking the dope Peter had brought, laughing, becoming friends.
Peter and Vicky seemed to be already beyond that. She sat on the arm of the chair he was sprawled in, leaning close to him, engaged in a conversation for the two of them alone.
"They're certainly getting along," Ellen remarked.
"How do you like him Baby?"
"He's really nice. I think it'll be great having him here."
"I was hoping you'd say that."
"He has good dope too," she laughed, surprising Mike by placing her mouth on his and shotgunning a hit.
"That's kind of hot. Can I try it?"
"Go for it Cowboy."
He drew the smoke in, transferred it to Ellen's mouth as she'd done to him, for once not mindful of performing such an intimate act in front of others.
"I like stoned Michael. Stoned Michael is chill."
He made a sound that the sober Mike would have found uncomfortably close to a giggle.
"Why don't we continue this somewhere more private Luv?"
"I'm all yours, Baby."
IV
When the couple emerged from their bedroom the next morning, they found Peter and Vicky curled up together in a pile of blankets on the floor.
Ellen smiled. "Looks like someone's already moved in."
"I'd say so. This arrangement just got a lot cozier I guess."
Mike walked over, gently nudged the other man's leg with a boot-clad foot. "Wake up, Buddy. We're due at the studio this morning."
"Don't wanna Nez. I still feel stoned."
"Well, you better unless you'd like to be fired before you're famous."
"I hate to admit it, but you're right."
He unentangled himself from the still-sleeping woman beside him and made his way to the kitchen table, shirtless. "Please tell me there's coffee."
"There will be and eggs with bacon as well."
Ellen crossed to the coffee pot. Mike sat down beside Peter. "So I guess I'm not the only one who got lucky last night."
Peter grinned. "No, you're not. We decided we like each other."
"Well good luck with that one. She's a bit wild."
"Yeah, I figured that out."
"It's interesting to me how sisters can be so different."
"So Ellen's NOT wild?"
"Oh she definitely is, but only where it counts," he said with a wink.
"So one of those I'm a lady in public and a freak in the bedroom types?"
"OK this conversation is getting a might uncomfortable...but yeah," he confessed, grinning now.
"Well good for you man."
"I have no complaints."
"Coffee gentlemen."
By the time breakfast was ready Vicky had awoken and joined them. She and Peter were all over each other. Ellen was used to this type of behavior from her sister AND John, but Mike was obviously a bit put off by it. Still, he said nothing.
"Hey can I use your shower?"
"Sure, but we have to go soon, so make it quick."